A man threatening hospital staff with a knife for hours cost the ACT almost $10,000 in a police response with dozens of officers called to the stand-off that ended with a flash-bang grenade being deployed.
More than two dozen police officers, including a national specialist response team and negotiators, were called to Canberra Hospital on April 22, 2026 as a male patient kept eight hospital staff locked in a room near the emergency department for three hours.
Police had failed to find a hidden knife on the man's person when earlier dropping him off at the hospital for mental health treatment.
A question on notice in the Legislative Assembly reveals the cost, manpower and time required to bring the threatening situation under control.
The total estimated financial cost of the police response was $9926, based on recorded hours worked, according to ACT Policing. The cost included $3599 of direct ACT Policing expenditure and $6327 in costs of an AFP national specialist response.
The cost figure included ordinary staffing, overtime, and specialist response costs.
A total of 30 police, including seven general duties officers, 17 tactical staff, three negotiators and three specialist officers attended the hospital on April 22.
The territory's police force advised officers spent a cumulative 163 hours responding to the incident, including time spent on administrative duties such as related paperwork.
ACT Policing noted that its approach to the situation would be "appropriately examined as part of the post-incident review", alongside health services and other agencies.
"ACT Policing note that the situation was complex and highly sensitive and involving a person in acute mental health crisis, within a hospital setting," the response read.
"The priority of ACT Policing members was to protect staff, other patients, and the individual, while respecting his health needs and human rights. During the incident and because of the response, no other patients were placed at risk, there were no serious injuries, and the individual is now receiving ongoing mental health treatment.
"Police are highly trained, and in circumstances like this, time and negotiation can be critical tools to safely de-escalate risk and avoid serious harm."
The behaviour assessment unit that staff were trapped in was later revealed to have recorded 76 reports of violence since it opened in August 2024. Unions and staff members previously said they had raised concerns about safety features in the unit.
Security guards and wardspeople, sometimes known as orderlies, do not have the direct power to restrain patients, but can be directed to by a clinical lead.
